John Black, executive director of the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority as recipient of the Pinnacle Award

Jan 15, 2015 at 12:59 pm by bryan


Leadership Rutherford has named John Black, executive director of the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority, as the 2014 recipient of the Pinnacle Award, given to someone who has demonstrated significant leadership throughout his or her career.

Black began his career with the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority in 1991 as deputy director of the Smyrna Airport, and was named executive director in 1999. During his tenure, the Airport Authority has invested over $38 million dollars into the airport, which has won Airport of the Year for the State of Tennessee twice. Black is a recipient of the coveted Airport Manager of the Year award for the Federal Aviation Administration Southern Region.

ADVERTISEMENT

Black earned a bachelor's degree in aviation administration and master's degree in aerospace from Middle Tennessee State University. He is a current Smyrna Rotary Club officer and has served as an adjunct professor in MTSU's aerospace department since 2001. He is a member of the board of directors for Cumberland Region Tomorrow and TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, past president of Arnold Community Council and past board member for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is a graduate of Leadership Rutherford and Leadership Middle Tennessee and scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 374.

Black and wife Libby, who teaches at Blackman Elementary School, live in Murfreesboro and have two children; Chelsea, a recent MTSU graduate and Austin, an MTSU senior.

Black will be honored at the Chamber's annual Business at its Best event on Friday, Feb. 6, at the Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel and Conference Center. Reservations are $70 for Chamber members and $90 for non-members. To reserve a seat, please contact the Chamber at 615-893-6556 or visit www.rutherfordchamber.org.

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, which includes the Convention & Visitors Bureau, Destination Rutherford, Economic Development, Workforce Development and the Business Education Partnership, seeks to promote economic development and a quality of life to benefit all residents of Rutherford County. Programs, events and services are offered to both its nearly 1,600 member organizations and non-members. The Chamber operates out of a main office on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro, which also houses the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, and has branch offices in Smyrna, La Vergne and Eagleville. Learn more atwww.rutherfordchamber.org.

Sections: News